The Hardy boys: Reading lacrosse team makes history
During the first year of the Reading boys' lacrosse program, co-founder and coach Charlie Hardy wanted to give his team some inspiration. Toward the end of the season, he and the coaching staff took the squad to the Middlesex League title game between Winchester and Lexington.
"I looked at the calendar and I said, 'Let's watch some good lacrosse,' and we took 'em over there," said Hardy, who had his players decked out in their uniforms for the occasion.
"The coaches, they looked up and said, 'What are you doing?' I said that we're going to watch the game. We're going to see our competition and see where we have to be.' "
Five years later, Hardy and the Rockets are now at the top. Led by Patrick DeBenedetto (five goals, three assists) and Jim Queeney (four goals, four assists), the 15th-ranked Rockets (11-2) won their first Middlesex crown and ended the reign of '07 champ Lexington with a 13-8 triumph yesterday.
"It's been my little dream to start a lacrosse program in Reading," said Hardy after his team pulled away from a 4-4 halftime tie to beat the Minutemen. "It's been about six years, and now we're winning the league championship and beating the likes of Winchester and Lexington, who are always powerhouses. I told the kids that there are very few things in life you can be first at, and today you were the first to win the Middlesex title for Reading High School."
Middlesex: Michael Leavitt's goal in overtime lifted Winchester over Belmont, 11-10.
Cape Ann: Alex Blaine's goal in the second overtime gave North Andover a 6-5 win over Masconomet.
Nonleague: Evan Mula and Ryan Pratt notched six goals each in Waltham's 17-4 romp over Newton South.
Girls' lacrosse
Dual County: Jess Griffin's six goals and four assists keyed Lincoln-Sudbury in a 17-11 victory over Concord-Carlisle.
Hockomock: King Philip (14-2) locked up the league title with a 20-1 rout of North Attleboro.
Tri-Valley: Rachel O'Shea (three goals, three assists) led Medfield to a 16-6 win over Holliston.
Baseball
Dual County: No. 2 Westford scored a 5-4 win over Wayland thanks to an RBI single from Colin Royal (3 for 4, two RBIs).
Patriot: Senior shortstop Chris Amate went 5 for 5 (homer, 3 RBIs) to help Hanover win a 14-10 slugfest over Pembroke.
Prep: Tilton's Jordan Smith cranked his sixth home run of the year (tops in Eastern Mass.) in a 10-5 win over Winchendon.
Softball
South Coast: No. 2 Dighton-Rehoboth avoided an upset as center fielder Tori Rocha's base hit in the eighth drove in the winning run in a 3-2 victory over Apponequet.
Nonleague: Natalie Casey fanned eight in a one-hitter as Arlington Catholic ripped Cambridge, 15-0.
Boys' tennis
Bay State: Brookline's Johnathan Miller beat Framingham's Eric Fandel, 6-3, 6-3, in a 4-1 victory for the Warriors.
Hockomock: Lucas DeForest (13-0) defeated Duncan Yarmouth in first singles, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to help North Attleboro beat King Philip, 3-2.
Girls' tennis
Dual County: Westford's Abby McKeon beat Newton South's Lauren Hollander in first singles as the Ghosts topped the Lions, 4-1.
Dual County: Lincoln-Sudbury claimed its second straight league title with a 3-0 win over Westford.
